Vacuum cup



July 12, 1938. P. Q. WILLIAMS VACUUM CUP Filed April 23, 1936 5mm fiat? Q.

Patented July 12, 1938 2,123,549

UNITED STATES PATENTv OFFICE- VACUUM CUP Percy Q. Williams, Toledo, Ohio Application April 23, 1936, Serial No. 76,023

3 Claims. (Cl. 248-363) My invention has for its object to provide a conform to the general direction of the sloping vacuum cup having a plurality of surface enareas of the rounded comers of the topof the gaging and sealing lips or ridges for insuring automobile. The cups are connected by brackets maintenance of a large area of differential pres- 8 to the tubular uprights l which are connected sure on opposite surfaces of the cup. to the frame 3. The interiors of the cups com- 5 The invention also has for its object to promunicate with the interior of the frame through vide a vacuum cup having a peripherally dlsthe passageways 9 formed in the brackets 8 and posed shelter lip for preventing entrance of moistubular uprights I. The brackets B and the tops ture within the low pressure area of the cup. of the cups are formed to dispose the plane of 10 The lip is of particular advantage when vacthe edges of the cups at the desired angle with 10 uum cups are subjected to unfavorable weather respect to the plane of the top of the automoconditions, such as rain or sleet, or when water bile or the frame 3. The bottom of the rack or other liquids wash over the cups, as may 4 may be suspended from the tubular frame by occur when cleaning the objects to which the means of straps 5 that may be suitably secured cups are pneumatically attached. Ordinarily to the bottom and may be hooked or other- 15 when vacuum cups are exposed to moisture, the wise connected to the tubular frame 3. The low pressure within the cups tends to draw frame 3 may be connected by a pipe it to any the moisture into the vacuous region which resuitable means, such as the intake of the autoduces the degree of vacuity, and the cups, or mobile engine, for exhausting the air from the pressure reducing systems that may be connectframe and withdrawing air from the interior of ed to the cups, are rendered less effective. The the cups. entrance of moisture between the sealing edge The cups l are formed of elastic material, of the cup and the supporting surfaces reduces such as rubber vulcanized to the proper degree the frictional resistance to lateral movements to produce reasonable resiliency. The cups l of the cup relative to its supporting surface. are provided with cylindrical hubs H, the axis 25 The invention may be contained in vacuum of the exterior cylindrical surface of the hubs cups of different forms that may be used for being located in inclined relation with respect different purposes. The construction of the vac to the plane of the edge H of the cup. The uum cups containing my invention may be varied .hub is provided with a bushing l3 having flange in its details. To illustrate a practical applicaparts M. The bushing and the lower end of 30 tion of my invention, I have selected, as an the bracket 8 are threaded to enable connection example of the various structures that contain of the cup with the bracket. The flange parts my invention, a vacuum cup that is particularly and the body of the bushing are embedded in adapted to attaching a luggage rack to the surthe rubber of the hub to produce a rigid conface of a part of the body of an automobile, nection in the resilient material of which the 35. such as the top.. The vacuum cup selected as cup is formed. If .desired, to prevent the return an example is illustrated in the accompanying flow of the air from the cups to the frame 3,

drawing and is described hereinafter. particularly when the engine of the automobile Fig. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a lugis not running, one-way valves ll may be 10- gage rack to which vacuum cups embodying my cated in the hubs H. 4.0 invention are connected. Fig. 2 illustrates an Each of the cups is provided with a plurality under side view of one of the cups. Fig. 3 illusof ridges that protrude from the concave surtrates a section of the cup shown in Fig. 2. face of the top wall l8 of the cup. The ridges The cups may be connected to any suitable are disposed around a central part or axis of object that is to be pneumatically attached to a the cup body and are located in spaced relation 45 supporting surface. In the illustration of Fig. 1 to each other. The outermost ridge 2! is periphwherein a practical application of the invention erally located and forms the edge of the elastic is shown, the cups I are connected to a luggage cup so as to contact the supporting surface and rack. The vacuum cups are particularly adaptelastically press the edge of the cup against the ed to connect the rack to the top of the body supporting surface when the cup is depressed. 50 of an automobile where the corner parts of the The contiguous ridge 22 is the air-sealing ridge automobile body are formed rounded and slopof the cup, and when the cup is depressed and ing relative to the major part of the top. The a material part of the air is exhausted, the ridge cups are connected to the frame 3 so as to lo- 22 is pneumatically pressed against the support- 5 cate their edges in planes that substantially ing surface and air-seals the area of the supporting surface surrounded by the ridge 22 and the space between the top wall l8 and the supporting surface.

A vent is located intermediate the sealing ridge 22 and the edge of the cup to prevent removal of air from beneath the marginal part of the top wall of the cup which prevents entrance of moisture beneath the edge of the cup by the low pressure produced within the cup. The edge of the cup is pressed by the elasticity of the top wall against the supporting surface. The engagement of the edge of the cup with the supporting surface shelters the sealing ridge and consequently maintains the effectiveness thereof. The ridge 2|, or the edge of the cup, is provided with an opening or recess 28 disposed at the surface engaging edge of the cup for the admission of the air intermediate the ridge 2! and the ridge 22. The recess 23 also forms a vent permitting the escape of water that may enter between the ridge 2| of the cup and the supporting surface. Ordinarily the water capillarily clings to the smaller spaces or cracks formed by the rounded surface of the ridge or edge of the cup where it contacts the supporting surface. If the water enters beneath the edge, it adheres thereto and flows along the edge of the cup and passes out through the vent. When the cup is depressed so that the ridge 22 contacts the supporting surface, the ridge 2| is maintained against the supporting surface by the pressure produced by the resiliency of the rubber of which the cup is formed. If air enters the cup from beneath the ridge 22, it passes through the moisture sheltered vent and into the space between the ridges 2| and 22 and does not draw the moisture into the space defined by the ridge 22 and the top of the cup. The ridge 2! thus operates to shelter the ridge 22 against the entrance of moisture and prevents collection of water, sediment, and dust in the cup. The ridge 2| thus maintains pneumatic efliciency.

The cup cavity is also provided with a plurality of ridges 26, 21, and 28 that are located within the area of the sealing ridge 22. The ridges 26, 21, and 28 are provided with recesses 30 that form passageways that interconnect the spaces between the sealing ridge 22 and the ridges 26, 21, and 28 with the central part of the cup. The ridges 26, 21, and 28 operate to maintain the top wall I8 of the cup in spaced relation with respect to the supporting surface and thus maintain a maximum area of differential pressure on opposite sides of the top wall of the cup within the area of the sealingridge 22. The ridges prevent contact of the top wall of the cup located within the area of the sealing ridge with the supporting surface, which otherwise would very materially reduce the effective differential pressure.

If desired, the cup may be provided with a suitable reinforcing ridge 82 that may protrude from the outer surface of the top wall. The ndge 32 is located opposite the valley disposed intermediate the ridges 26 and 21 and increases the rigidity particularly at the point where the ridges 26 and 21 are recessed and prevents the portions of the rubber of which the cup is formed from being drawn inwardly to restrict the passageways 30 formed in the ridges 26 and 21.

I claim:

1. In a vacuum cup for securing an object to a supporting surface, a plurality of coaxially arranged ridges located in spaced relation, an outer ridge forming an air-sealing ridge, and each ridge inwardly of said outer ridge having vent means interconnecting the spaces between the said ridges.

2. In a vacuum cup for securing an object to a supporting surface, the cup having an elastic top wall and a plurality of substantially coaxially arranged ridge parts for supporting the top wall iii-spaced relation with respect to the supporting surface and, except for an outer ridge, having passageways therethrough, said outer ridge being complete and spaced inwardly from the edge of the cup and pneumatically pressed against the supporting surface to air-seal the interior of the cup, the edge of the cup having a vent and elastically pressed against the supporting surface when said outer ridge engages the supporting surface for shielding the outer ridge from water.

3. In a vacuum cup for securing an object to a supporting surface, the cup having an elastic top wall and a plurality of projections located on the top wall for supporting the top wall in spaced relation with respect to the supporting surface when the cup is depressed and having passageways therebetween, a ridge extending along a marginal area of the top wall and spaced inwardly from the edge of the cup to pneumatically air-seal the interior of the cup, the periphery of the cup having a vent and elastically pressed by the elasticity of the body of the cup against the supporting surface when the cup is depressed.

PERCY Q. WILLIAMS. 

